Accelerator attachment for motors



April 12, 1932. F. M. BUTLER ACCELERATOR ATTACHMENT FOR MOTORS FiledMarch 12, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet lllll. 955555!!! ATTORNEY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2April 12, 1932; F. M. BUTLER ACCELERATOR ATTACHMENT FOR MOTORS FiledMarch 1a.

3//// 4 a I H ilk ND: 1 I. A l

INVENTOR Fab/us M .BzM/a/ ATTORNEY April 1932- A F. M. BUTLERACCELERATOR ATTACHMENT FOR MOTORS Filed March 11:, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3I l I I I INVENTOR 502/: M 502%2/ ATTORNEY I Patented Apr. 12, 1932gUNME' STATES TENT I FABIUS M. BUTLER, or SEATTLE, WASHINGTONACCELERATOR ATTACHMENT FOR MOTORS Application filed March 12, 1927.Serial No. 174,942.

provide an accelerator mechanism which may be located conveniently andaccessibly to the operator so that it will not interfere with themanipulation of the other control mechanisms for the motor car, such asthe usual gear shift lever, or the brake and clutch foot pedals.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the characterdesignated which shall be adapted to operate the motor throttle in amore steady and uniform manner than apparatus heretofore employed.

A further object of the invention is to pro:

vide an accelerator mechanism of the character designated which shall besimple in operation, durable in construction and effective incontrolling the operation of the motor car.

These and other objects will be more apparent from the followingspecification and drawings, as specifically set forth in the appendedclaims.

. In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a View partially-in section of a hydraulic acceleratormechanism for operating the accelerator of a motor car;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the pump mechanism on line 22 of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 1 and showing a fluidregulator;

Fig. 4 is a detail view in section of the cylinder and piston on line4lt of Figure 1;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of an accelerator mechanism employing a flexiblemember connected to the carbureter throttle and accessible to theoperator;

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure 5; and

Figs. 7 and 8 show an embodiment of my invention in which theaccelerator attachment is mounted on the dash of a motor vehicle.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings there is shown conventionally thefront portion of an automobile embodyingfloor sections 10, a seat 11,steering'column'12, and a motor 13 shown in dotted lines. The motor'isprovided with a carbureter 1 1 having a throttle lever 15 and this leveris actuated by a mechanism constructed in. accordance with my invention.A

invention contemplates providing a hydraulic mechanism for actuating thethrottle in which acylinder and piston is connected to the throttlelever and a fluid pressure control mechanism is located conveniently tothe operator for regulating the operation of the throttle lever. Themechanism for actuating the throttle comprises a fluid pressure cylinder16 having a piston 17 and arod 18 operating therein. 1 The rodisadju'stably secured the throttle lever 15. i The throttle lever 15 isnormally maintained ina closed position by an extension springQO'securedto the lever 15 and the motor frame. The cylinder 16 is rigidly mountedon the motor frame in any suitable manner as for example by the metalstraps 21, 21 as shown in Fig. 4. I

The supply of motive fluid forthe hydraulic system; which may be anysuitable fluid such as oil or water; is delivered'to the cylinder 16 bya pump 22 located conveniently to the leg or knee of the operator. Thepump comprises a cylinder 23 and a piston member 24 operated by a handlever 25 pivotally mounted on the cylinder'head by a pivot member 26.The lower extremity of the pivoted lever is provided with dependingfingers 27' and 28 adapted to engage the top portion of the piston 24 sothat when the lever is moved laterally as shown in the dotted lineposition in Fig. ,2 one of the-fingers will engage the piston and movethesame downwardly and thereby displace fluid in the cvl- .tothe'pistonl'i' by means of set nuts 19 and Y inder. -When fluid is thusdisplaced it is forced through a conduit-29 which connects the pump withthe throttle actuating cylinple, a bayonet joint connection 30.

7 In order to provide for regulating the effective pressure transmittedby the pump to the associated operating cylinder 16, a variable capacityreservoir 31 is placed in com-.

munication withthe conduit 29. .This regulator reservoir is in the formof a closed cylinder provided with a displacement piston 32 i which iscarried 'by a threaded member 33 threaded in the head of the cylinderand op erated by suitable handle 3 L.

' Having thus described a hydraulic mech-v anism, constructed inaccordance with my invention, the operation thereof is obvious.

The system is filled with any desired amount of fluid, and the variablecapacity reservoir is adjusted so that any excess pressure caused by themovement of-the fluid in the system will impart to the piston in'theoperating cylinder'16 a desired movementto operate the throttle lever15.- When the throttle lever is thus moved against the tension of spring20, and the pressure is released, the spring will return the lever toits normal position and also causethe cylinder piston to force the fluidback through the system and thus restore the fluid to equilibrium.

While I have shown and described a pump mechanism operable by theoperator for supplying the desired fluid pressure to thesystem, it isobvious that the fluid pressure may be supplied from an independentsource and merely controlled by the operator without departing fromthescope of my invention.

In the embodimentof my invention shown in'Fi-g. 5, the throttle lever isarranged to be actuated by a flexible tension member 35, such as a cordor wire. This member lo- (rated-near the leg or knee of the operator andconnected to the seat so that it may be actu- .ated' by lateral movementof the leg of the operator. This tension member is detacha= blyconnected to the automobile seat in any suitable manner, as, for eXample,'-'by a book 36 and eye 37 at the end of the member. The

other end of the member is connected to a lever 38 pivotally mounted ona bracket 39 lo- .cated on the engine frame. 'Thepivoted lever isconnected to the throttle lever 1 5'by a link 410, thereby providing asimple and eflicient operating mechanism which may be readily operated.in eonjunetion with the usualfoot accelerator attachments supplied .withstandard equipment'for automobiles.

The throttle is maintained in a normally closed position by a coilspring i1 connected to the pivot lever and to a stationary portion ofthe motor. This spring is also adapted to-maintain the desired tensionupon the flexible member 35 so that the throttle may be readily moved inresponse to any deflection thereof. That portion of the member 35 whichis in contact with the operators knee or leg is provided with a paddedpor- T tion l2 which provides'a convenient rest for the operator whileusing the accelerator attachment. W hen it is desired to remove thetension member out of the way, for any reason, the member may beunhooked from the seat fastening and removed to any-convenient positionas indicated in the dotted lines of Fig. 6.

Having thus described apparatus constructed in accordance with myinvention, the

operation thereof is readily understood. The

flexible tension member35 being located in close proximity to theoperators leg, it may readily be deflected laterally by a slightpressure, thereby operatingthe throttle in opposition to the tension ofspring 41 and cause the desired operation of the throttle lever.

One of the principal advantages of a throttle mechanism constructed inaccordance with my invention is that the desired actuation of thethrottle may be obtained without the ne.

cessity ofexerting a direct pressureon the accelerator mechanism as inthe case of the usual foot operated mechanisms now in use,

as. the constant application of the foot be- -1 3 comes tiresome to theoperator Furthermore, when'the' accelerator is actuated by the lateralmovement of the leg both feet may be maintained on the clutch or brakepedals when desired- Referring to the embodiment of my invention shownin Fig. 7, the throttle operating lever '25 is mounted for horizontalswinging movement on the dash-of the motor'vehicle, in

"eessibleto the leg or knee ofthe operator.

suitable manner as for exampl b a bolt On the opposite side of the 'dashis a pivoted lever l? in the form of a wide plate, and

mounted in a U-shaped bracket which .is also 7 secured to the dash bythe bolt 46.

The lever 47 is connected to the pivotally mounted throttle lever 38 bya rod 49 which loosely engages the lower extremity of the lever 47. Therod 49 is provided with an ad'- justing nut 50, which serves to maintainthe desired adjustment of the levers against the action of spring ll. Bythus providing a loose connection between the lever 47 and the rod 49,the throttle lever 38 may be independently operated by a hand or footthrottle mechanism should these be present on a motor vehicle to whichmy device is readily applicable.

The extremity of the operating lever 25 engaging the lever 47 is shownas a fork having projections 51 and 52 which extend through an opening53 in the dash. The fork projections serve to maintain the lever in anormal operative position at right angles to the dash and convenient tothe leg or knee of the operator. The rearward portion of the levercomprises a rod 54 and a tubular section 55 adapted to telescopetherewith so that the lever may be readily removed to a position beneaththe cowl of the automobile and thus be out of the way of the operatorwhen it is not in use. The lever sections are maintained in the desiredextended relation by any suitable fastening means such as a thumb screw56. That portion of the tubular member normally engaged by the operatorsleg is provided with a padded portion 57 which also adds to the comfortof the operator while using the device.

A throttle lever constructed and arranged as above described may bereadily attached to any motor vehicle and thus provide a convenientaccelerator mechanism which relieves the operator from the fatigueusually experienced by the constant application of pressure on the usualfoot operated accelerator. An accelerator embodying my invention isactuated by merely resting the leg orknee against the operating leverand should it be desired to operate the vehicle without the use of myimproved device, the'telescoping parts permit the lever to be removedoutof the way without interfering with any of the othor operatingmechanism, such as the hand or foot accelerator levers usually furnishedas standard equipment on the automobile.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Anaccelerator attachment for motor vehicles comprising a lever mounted ona dash of an automobile and extending rearwardly therefrom, said leveradapted to be operated by the leg or knee .of the operator, a secondlever mounted on the dash and having a cam surface for engaging one endof the first mentioned lever, and means associatedwith said levers formaintaining the same in a normal position relative to the said dash andthe operator.

2. An accelerator attachment for motor vehicles comprising a telescopiclever mounted on the dash of a motor vehicle and adapted to be operatedby the leg or knee of the operator, a second lever mounted on the dashin operative relation to said first mentioned lever and means fortelescoping the lever parts whereby said operating lever may be movedout of the way of the operator when it is not in use. a a l 3. Anaccelerator attachment for motor vehicles comprising an extensibletelescopic lever mounted on the dash of a motor vehicle, a second levermounted on the dash adjacent to said first mentioned lever and adaptedto be actuated thereby, and means for ad usting the length of thetelescopic lever.

4:. In an accelerator attachment for motor vehicles, a manually operatedlever mounted on the dash of the vehicle, a second lever engaged by saidfirst lever and including means for maintaining said first lever atsubstantially right angles to said dash, connections between the secondlever and a carbureter including a rod loosely connected to said secondlever, whereby the rod may be moved independently of said second leverand resilient means for maintaining said second lever and rod inengagement. I

5. In combination with the dash of a motor 7 vehicle, an acceleratorattachment comprising an extensible throttle lever pivotally mounted onthedash'and adapted to swing in a substantially horizontal plane, meansfor adj usting the length of the lever and means including aspring formaintaining the lever in a desired normal position.

6. A knee-operated accelerator attachment for a motor vehicle comprisingan adjustable lever pivotally mounted on the dash of the vehicle andextending rearwardly therefrom,

said lever having a padded portion, means for adjusting the paddedportion relative to the knee of'the operator, means for moving thepadded portion of saidlever beneath the dash and out of the way of theoperator and means for preventing swinging movement of the lever whennot in use.

7. An accelerator attachment for motor vehicles comprising a pivotallymounted lever extending rearwardly from the dash of the vehicle andnormally in close proximity to the knee of the operator, and movableconnections for maintaining the lever out of the way of theoperatorincluding means for preventing swinging movement of the lever when notin use.

8. Anaccelerator attachment for motor vehicles comprising a leverpivotally mounted on the dash of the vehicle and extending normally inclose proximity to the knee of the operator, means for maintaining thelever'in normal position, and means for maintaining the lever out of theway of the operator ineluding yieldable means for preventing

